Saving For The Future

Our Towns: Wallingford

June 11, 1998

Wallingford officials sensibly decided that the time to salt away open space is now rather than later. Unfortunately, a petition drive seeking a referendum has stalled plans to purchase 100 acres of open land.

Letting voters decide on the $4.5 million buy is certainly part of the democratic process, but the land in question was not casually selected, and with the passage of time, at least one piece will be more difficult to obtain.

The town council followed a conservation commission study that identified likely parcels of land that the town could acquire to preserve its open space. The council approved an ordinance to provide for the purchase of three pieces of land -- two adjacent parcels off of Grieb Road and another on Route 68 west of Highland Avenue.

The town's solid fiscal condition makes this a good time to take on the additional expense of preserving land to maintain the town's ambience and provide for recreation.

No purchase of a large block of land is likely to be without questions and even controversy. Contractors with an interest in developing some of the property in question -- one is already building homes -- understandably object to the land being purchased for open space and worry about losing money. Even if the town decides to take land by eminent domain, however, it must pay a fairmarket price for the property.

The contractors' interest in the land is exactly why the town would be wise to buy land now. For at least two decades, steady development of industrial parks and tracts of homes has replaced orchards and fields on the town's gentle hills. Wallingford is maturing and must look ahead to protect the qualities that have made it attractive as a place to live and work.

Voters should support the town council in its resolve to buy land each year.